Dear Friends and Supporters,

More than once I’ve heard the saying that our region’s recovery from Helene is a marathon, not a sprint. Having run a handful of marathons, I can say that preparation is essential; and that during the race you will face inspirational moments, like running past bystanders high-fiving you, and painful moments when your legs rebel against the rest of your body. And, after nearly every race, I cry when I cross the finish line. Tears of exhaustion, joy, gratefulness, and sadness. The saying, in reference to our storm recovery, makes sense. I have all these emotions sometimes multiple times in one day. And, perhaps some of you do, too.

MountainTrue is prepared for this marathon. Our staff and volunteers have been amazing – and are prepared for the long haul. While recognizing some families are still very much trying to meet basic needs, MountainTrue is shifting to cleanups, restoration, and rebuilding. This will look different in different places. Read more below, and we will continue to keep you updated. 

Marathoners never run alone and often depend upon the support, coaching, and encouragement of those around them. Thank you for your support and being part of our MountainStrong Team.

Bob Wagner

Executive Director

Clean Waters Team

Public Safety Announcements

⚠️ Read our Volunteer Safety Guidelines blog – always wear your PPE when participating in a cleanup or if you know you’ll come in contact with mud/sediment leftover from Helene. 

⚠️ MountainTrue’s Riverkeepers and Clean Waters Team ask that you stay out of rivers and waterways at the moment. 

Watershed Reports: Messages from MountainTrue’s Riverkeepers

📝 Broad Riverkeeper

📝 French Broad Riverkeeper

📝 Green Riverkeeper

📝 Watauga Riverkeeper

Brandon Jones w/ Catawba Riverkeeper helping the French Broad Riverkeeper distribute free well-testing kits yesterday, 10/29.

Well Water Testing Updates

💧The Watauga Riverkeeper continues to offer free well testing in partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services and Waterkeepers Carolina. 

💧The French Broad Riverkeeper tested around 100 samples from wells around the watershed yesterday; test results are still pending and will be available this afternoon (stay tuned for info on our Instagram pages). 

💧Who should test: If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t recommend testing every well and there aren’t resources to test every well, so we’re asking that only wells that were flooded during Helene be tested. Where to get a well-testing kit:

     ✔️ Johnson County, TN: Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – CLOSED Wednesday & Sunday. 

     ✔️ Watauga County, NC: The Greenhouse (164 Depot Street Boone, NC 28607) to pick up supplies and check-in with our team on Monday or Thursday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Completely fill sample bottle with well water from your sink and return to us within 24 hours of collection time (ex. if you collect sampling supplies on a Thursday evening, wait until Sunday night to collect your water sample). Drop off your water sample and I.D. sheet back at the Greenhouse on Monday or Thursday between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Results will be communicated to you within 36 hours.

Soil and Water Pollution Testing Update

🔬The Broad Riverkeeper has been working with Rutherford Outdoor Coalition to test Broad River water quality below Lake Lure. On October 10, we got confirmation from the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) that Lake Lure’s wastewater treatment plant was severely damaged by floodwaters, resulting in raw sewage spilling into the Broad River. We immediately went out to take water samples and run an analysis in our lab. From a sample taken 1/2 mile below the Lake, results showed off-the-chart bacteria levels – greater than 2420 mpn E.coli/100 ml. Further downstream at Grays Road and Coxe Road accesses, and at the Broad River Greenway, bacteria levels were fairly low – between 30 and 88 mpn E.coli/100 ml. Five days later, the bacteria level just below the lake had dropped significantly, but 20 miles downstream, levels were rising. By October 21, high levels of bacteria were showing up 50 miles downstream at our Broad River Greenway. We’re happy to report that our latest sampling on October 23 showed low levels of bacteria at six locations from just below the Lake down to the Broad River Greenway. 

While water quality may be improving, there are many new obstacles in our rivers. Volunteer scouts paddled from Grays Road to Coxe Road last Saturday and found three strainers (log jams) in that section alone. Trees and other debris create very hazardous conditions for paddlers. Don’t venture out alone. If you decide to go paddling, wear your PFD, allow extra time for navigating through obstacles, and be prepared to climb through some trees. This is especially relevant to the Broad River above the confluence with the Green River. Feel free to contact your Broad Riverkeeper at david@mountaintrue.org for more info.

Watauga Riverkeeper cleanup volunteers at last week’s Guy Ford River Access cleanup.

River Cleanups Update

🗑️ Thanks to the generous support of the Polk County Community Foundation and many individual donors, the Green Riverkeeper has been managing cleanup efforts on the Lower Green with Precision Grading to remove cars, homes, RVs, trailers, and more from the river.

🗑️ MountainTrue’s French Broad, Green, and Watauga Riverkeepers will continue to host cleanups in the coming weeks; look for cleanup info + updates in these weekly emails and on our Instagram and Facebook accounts: MountainTrue Instagram, Facebook + Twitter, French Broad Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Green Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook. 

🗑 Upcoming river cleanups: 

     ✔️ Asheville, NC/Buncombe County: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. this Thursday, October 31. Learn more + register for the MountainTrue x RiverLink cleanup.

     ✔️ Sugar Grove, NC/Watauga County: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. this Friday, November 1. Learn more + register.

     ✔️ Boone, NC/Watauga County: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, w/ Blue Ridge Conservancy and the Middle Fork Greenway. Learn more + register.

     ✔️ Boone, NC/Watauga County: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 @ Deer Valley Athletic Club. Learn more + register.

     ✔️ Saluda, NC/Polk County: time TBD on Saturday, November 9. Cleanup focused on the Lower Green; more details to come, but this will mostly be a roadside cleanup effort with one small river area to focus on. 

Resilient Forests Team

The scope of damage to our forests is coming into focus. Helene was a record-setting rain event, but it was also a wind event without a historical precedent. Over 50,000 acres of forest were heavily impacted by high winds in North Carolina alone, and Tennessee and Virginia also suffered severe winds. MountainTrue is working with other conservation organizations, foresters, and ecologists to provide recommendations and resources for landowners wondering what to do with all the downed trees. MountainTrue board member Nick Holshouser made a map of the damage caused by Helene using satellite measurement of the “greenness” of the forest after Helene vs. before. You can check out this interactive map here.

Public Safety/Access Announcements

All NC mountain State Parks remain closed. The Grandfather and Appalachian Districts of Pisgah National Forest are likewise closed. The Pisgah Ranger District is open to the public, as is Nantahala National Forest and Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Fire danger is high, and the ability to fight fire is hampered by storm damage. Please refrain from burning brush until significant rain occurs.

Before (left) and after (right) the MountainTrue & Wildwood Consulting chainsaw crew cleaned up the Canton Watershed in Haywood County, NC.

Chainsaw Crew Updates

Chainsaw crews have continued work in residential communities in Mitchell County and Asheville, most recently cleaning up the Hominy Creek Greenway and the Asheville Botanical Garden. MountainTrue is currently fundraising for more tree cleanup work. 

Healthy Communities Team

MountainTrue is launching a community-driven design program to help rebuild areas in Western North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene. By engaging volunteer architects, engineers, and planners, the Recovery and Resilience Design Team will address urgent needs and promote sustainable development, ensuring communities are healthier and more resilient against future disasters. If you are a designer interested in volunteering, or if your community is in need of design assistance, reach out to our Director of Healthy Communities, Chris Joyell (chris@mountainture.org).

Creation Care Alliance (CCA)

A truckload of firewood ready to be delivered to Yancey County.

In the past month, Sarah and the Creation Care Alliance network have distributed over $20,000 in emergency funds and supplies to communities severely impacted by Helene. You can learn more about these accomplishments, and the partnerships that made them possible, through this recent blog post on the CCA website. 

How You Can Help: 

     ✔️Connect as a Congregation: We’re gathering information to help connect congregations to relief support and ways to help. Let us know what you need, or have to offer, here.

     ✔️Volunteer: We need volunteers to help with various tasks. If you can lend a hand, please fill out our volunteer form. We will connect you with a volunteer location from there.

     ✔️Housing: If you have extra space to offer, please consider opening your home to someone in need. Fill out our form to let us know you’re interested. 

     ✔️Transportation: If you have an extra vehicle or another way to connect someone to reliable transportation, fill out this form today.

     ✔️Spread the Word: Share this message within your networks and encourage others to get involved.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Last night, over a thousand people gathered in Pack Square in downtown Asheville for an interfaith service led by our political leaders to mourn our region’s losses. As the crowd swayed and sang “Lean on Me” led by a local choir, the connectedness of a suffering but hopeful people was palpable. 

As we approach the one-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s landfall, it’s been inspiring to witness our mountain communities come together in powerful ways. Those less affected have stepped up to help their neighbors whose lives were disrupted, homes damaged, or lost.

In these challenging times, our community’s heart and strength have shone through—especially from our amazing supporters and volunteers. Whether you’ve brought supplies to local centers, served hot meals, joined a debris clean-up effort, or donated to our MountainStrong Recovery Fund, you’ve made a real difference.

With your help, we’ve raised $109,580, including a $20,000 grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of WNC. If you haven’t contributed yet, we invite you to make a gift today.

Because of your support, we’ve been able to:

     ✔️Coordinate a robust relief effort in Yancey and Mitchell counties through our Creation Care covenant partners and other congregations.

     ✔️Test hundreds of wells and provide water filters to families affected by flooding.

     ✔️Conduct soil sampling to identify storm-related river pollution.

     ✔️Deploy chainsaw crews to clear fallen trees in northern Buncombe County and Bakersville, helping families regain access to their homes and properties.

See this week’s Response Roundup below to learn more about our recovery efforts.

Your generosity is driving MountainTrue’s work not only to lead the recovery but to ensure our region emerges stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to face future climate challenges. We still have much work ahead, and your continued support is critical. Together, we can rebuild our region to be stronger, healthier, and better prepared for tomorrow. Thank you for standing with us and for your unwavering commitment to our mountain communities.

Let’s continue to lean on each other,

Bob Wagner 

Executive Director

MountainTrue’s Roundup: Responding to Hurricane Helene

Clean Waters Team

Public Safety Announcements

⚠️Read our Volunteer Safety Guidelines blog – always wear your PPE when participating in a cleanup or if you know you’ll come in contact with mud/sediment leftover from Helene. 

⚠️MountainTrue’s Riverkeepers and Clean Waters Team ask that you stay out of rivers and waterways at the moment. 

⚠️A message from the City of Asheville Water Resources Department: City of Asheville water customers remain under a boil water advisory — this water is not safe for drinking from the tap; water must be vigorously boiled for at least one minute before consumption. The water is safe for flushing toilets, laundry, showering (do not swallow water while showering), and washing dishes at a minimum of 170 degrees.

Water samples being inventoried and prepared for analysis at MountainTrue’s Asheville office last week; riverkeepers came from far and wide to help the MountainTrue team sample local waterways!

Well Water Testing Updates

💧The Watauga Riverkeeper continues to offer free well testing in partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services and Waterkeepers Carolina. 63 samples have been processed so far, with 30 more on the way — processed samples produced a 12.5% failure rate, indicating that the majority of wells tested by our team were not contaminated. 

💧The French Broad Riverkeeper continues to offer free well testing. Over 135 drinking water wells have been sampled. Processed samples produced a ~10% failure rate, indicating that the majority of wells tested by our team were not contaminated. 

💧Who should test: If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t recommend testing every well and there aren’t resources to test every well, so we’re asking that only wells that were flooded during Helene be tested. Where to get a well-testing kit:

     ✔️Buncombe County, NC – 10/29: multiple locations. Test kit pickup starting at 10 a.m., drop off samples by 3 p.m.

          📍Barnardsville: Old Fire Station (1679 Barnardsville Hwy)

          📍Fairview: Food Lion parking lot (1350 Charlotte Hwy)

          📍Swannanoa: Blunt Pretzels (120 Alexander Pl)

     ✔️Henderson County, NC – 10/29: El Centro @ Jackson Park (801 4th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC). Test kit pickup starting at 10 a.m., drop off samples by 3 p.m.

     ✔️Johnson County, TN: Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.

     ✔️Madison County, NC – 10/29 : Highland Station Coffee Shop (5247 US-25 #70, Marshall, NC 28753). Test kit pickup starting at 10 a.m., drop off samples by 3 p.m.

     ✔️Yancey County, NC – 10/29: Rose’s parking lot (120 Reservoir Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714). Test kit pickup starting at 10 a.m., drop off samples by 3 p.m.

Soil and Water Pollution Testing Update

🔬Last week, Riverkeepers from across North Carolina, Alabama, and Pennsylvania came to help our team conduct expanded surface water and sediment testing throughout our WNC watersheds. Those samples are currently at the lab; we’ll communicate the results once we have them. Huge shoutout to the Haw River Assembly team, Coosa Riverkeeper, and Three Rivers Waterkeeper for their support!

🔬Results from the soil/sediment samples we took in Marshall, NC, the week after Helene are finally in — here’s what you need to know: Mountaintrue has taken almost a dozen water and sediment samples around the watershed at this point. We have the partial results back for one of those sediment samples from Marshall. Those results show we tested for about 135 pollutants and only two were present (isopropltoluene and trimethylbeneze). Out of those two, trimethylbeneze appears to be the one with the most health concerns. This pollutant is associated with petroleum and can present serious human health hazards. However, the scientific literature varies on what levels are problematic in sediments. We found trimethylbenzene at 23.9 ug/kg, which isn’t sky-high, but we still recommend avoiding skin and eye contact and using proper protection when working in or around the mud.

🔬The Watauga Riverkeeper is conducting surface water quality testing across the Watauga and New River basins; high levels of bacteria persist across the region. 

🔬The Broad Riverkeeper is conducting surface water quality testing across the Broad River Basin. Two weeks ago, there were very high concentrations of bacteria just downstream of Lake Lure and its damaged wastewater treatment plant. Last week, the bacteria made its way ~20 miles downstream at Grays and Coxe Road accesses. This week, the bacteria showed up at the Broad River Greenway in Boiling Springs, ~40 miles below Lake Lure. Though bacteria levels aren’t extremely high, the Broad Riverkeeper advises folks to not swim in the river at this time.

High Country Outreach Coordinator Emma Crider in front of a pile of construction debris cleaned up from the Watauga River last week.

River Cleanups Update

🗑️~40 volunteers joined the French Broad Riverkeeper to help clean up Firefighter Island along the French Broad Paddle Trail on Tuesday, October 22. Volunteers collected 20 bags of trash and sorted/moved lots of construction debris. Shoutout to Smash Events LLC for donating a delicious catered lunch! 

🗑️~100 volunteers joined the Watauga Riverkeeper to help clean up the Upper Gorge and Guy Ford river access points on the Watauga last Thursday and Saturday. Volunteers collected over 40 bags of trash and cleaned up lots of construction debris; the team returned found personal items back to the owners they could find and followed removal guidelines. The Watauga Riverkeeper team is also documenting large debris for targeted removal — if you know of large debris that needs to be removed, please submit information here.

🗑️Donations raised by Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks have been used to contract with Jake Jarvis from Precision Grading to clean up portions of the Green River Cove in Saluda, NC. Jake has been working hard to haul trash out of the Lower Green — yesterday, he pulled out a huge dumpster that was filled with sand, a van, trailer, RV parts and more in just a one mile stretch. Jake has done so much for not only the residents down in the Cove, but also the river and we are so grateful for him! Jake is pulling trash out but leaving woody debris. The reason for this is because that woody debris can be used in the future for stream bank restoration efforts, and will create habitat for ecosystems to thrive again one day on the Green River. 

🗑Upcoming river cleanups: 

     ✔️Buncombe County, NC: 10:30 a.m. this Thursday, October 24. Click here for meeting location. 

     ✔️Watauga County, NC: 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. this Thursday, October 24 at Clawson-Burnley Park in Boone. Register here.  

Resilient Forests Team

Public Safety/Access Announcements

The Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest is now open. 

The MountainTrue and Wildwood Consulting chainsaw crew helping clean up the Asheville Botanical Garden on Monday, October 21.

Chainsaw Crew Updates

With funding from the WNC Community Foundation, MountainTrue and Wildwood Consulting have continued to send chainsaw crews to clean up debris in public and private spaces. Last week, the crews were in northern Buncombe County and Bakersville clearing fallen trees and debris and helping folks access their homes and properties. 

Healthy Communities Team

Our Healthy Communities Team continues to engage in emergency response outreach, transportation infrastructure response, and tenant/renter relief in the wake of Helene in Henderson and Buncombe counties. Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell talked to the Asheville Watchdog about the need to not give into “flood amnesia” and instead re-examine what and how we build in our flood plains — read the article here.

MountainTrue has partnered with Mountain Housing Opportunities and the Southern Environmental Law Center to secure a commitment from the City of Asheville to re-locate and remediate a storm debris processing site at Ford Street in the Deaverview community. Using this site to store and process debris would have prolonged a history of environmental injustice in this community. The City has committed to cleaning up the Ford Street site with the next two weeks. 

Creation Care Alliance (CCA)

CCA Director Sarah Ogletree (left) poses with volunteers on/in front of donated generators and propane tanks from Portico Church in Charlottesville, VA. These donations are bound for a community in Mitchell County, NC, estimated to be without power through January 2025.

CCA Director Sarah Ogletree has continued matching impacted congregations in remote areas with resources and volunteers from unaffected faith communities through the CCA network. While congregations keep serving as hubs of community resilience and mutual aid, Sarah will continue monitoring distribution needs, connecting people and resources, and working in alignment with other mutual aid groups to create databases of folks who have resources and want to share them with those in need.

Dear MountainTrue Family, 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we’ve witnessed the incredible toughness and generosity of our community. Thank you. 

With your help, we’ve raised nearly $60,000 for our MountainStrong Recovery Fund. This includes a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to mobilize chainsaw crews to clear trees, restore access to homes, and make way for broader clean-up efforts in parks and public spaces. 

Because of your support, MountainTrue has been able to respond swiftly to the unprecedented damage done to our Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Already, we’ve made great strides — from leading hundreds of people on our first post-Helene river cleanups to delivering clean water and critical supplies to those most affected. See this week’s Response Roundup below to learn more about MountainTrue’s efforts.

But our work is far from done. MountainTrue is committed to restoring the vitality of our communities, the health of our rivers, and the resiliency of our forests. At the same time, we’re advocating for smarter policies that will make our region more resilient in the face of climate change and future storms.

Your donation to the MountainStrong Recovery Fund helps us tackle the challenges ahead. If you haven’t contributed yet, we hope you’ll consider making a gift today. Together, we can rebuild our region to be stronger, healthier, and even better than before the storm.

Thank you for standing with us.

With deep gratitude,

Bob Wagner 

Executive Director

MountainTrue’s Roundup: Responding to Hurricane Helene

Clean Waters Team

French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson (top) with cleanup volunteers in Asheville’s River Arts District last Friday, October 11. 

French Broad Riverkeeper

Last Friday, the French Broad Riverkeeper team held their first cleanup in Asheville’s River Arts District, with hundreds of community members showing up to lend a helping hand; over 650 bags of trash were collected and our dedicated cleanup group made a noticeable improvement in the area! The team also conducted their first round of well water testing after distributing testing kits in Candler, NC, with 50 samples tested so far. Because of high demand, our team will once again be distributing free well-testing kits to folks in locations around WNC tomorrow, Thursday, October 17. Here’s the info:

If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t recommend testing every well and there aren’t resources to test every well, so we’re asking that just wells that were flooded be tested. Pick up your well testing kit from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and return it by 3 p.m. on 10/17 at the following locations; we’ll provide you with all the necessary equipment and instructions for well sampling and we’ll have results ready the next day.

     ✔️ Burnsville – Roses parking lot (120 Reservoir Rd, Burnsville, NC)

     ✔️ Hot Springs Elementary School (63 N Serpentine Ave, Hot Springs, NC)

     ✔️ Fairview – Food Lion parking lot (1350 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, NC)

     ✔️ Barnardsville Fire Station (100 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville, NC)

     ✔️ Hendersonville – Jackson Park (801 4th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC)

     ✔️ Canton First Baptist Church (208 Academy St, Canton, NC)

Be sure to follow the French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing updates. 

Watauga Riverkeeper

The Watauga Riverkeeper Team has continued to distribute water, water filters courtesy of Wine to Water, medical and other relief supplies to folks in the High Country. The team conducted their first round of well water testing, with over 35 samples processed so far. 

Opportunities to get involved + upcoming well testing kit distribution dates: (please note that all volunteer opportunities are subject to change based on weather and circumstances)

     ✔️Thursday, October 17: We’ll be meeting at 9 a.m. at the Wine To Water Warehouse (689 George Wilson Road, Boone, NC) and then heading to         the cleanup location. Register here. 

**Trash cleanups last from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on 10/17 and 10/19, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on  10/22 and 10/24; Lunch will be provided for volunteers on 10/17, 10/19 and 10/22. Limited PPE (such as waders, boots, gloves, eye protection, and face masks) can be provided. We suggest that volunteers bring their own water, snacks, and PPE just in case. We’re capping this first cleanup at 30 volunteers.

     ✔️Friday, October 18: The team will be at the Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) to continue distributing well testing kits for flooded wells from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

**State line resource station open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. all days EXCEPT for Wednesday and Sunday. Please use their Linktree to coordinate volunteer needs and supply drops.

     ✔️Saturday, October 19: We’ll be meeting at the Wine To Water Warehouse (689 George Wilson Road, Boone, NC) and then heading to the cleanup location. Register here.

     ✔️Tuesday, October 22: We’ll be meeting at Brookshire Park (250 Brookshire Rd, Boone, NC 28607) from 1-4 p.m. and working to collect litter and form debris piles from the river, banks, trails, and green spaces. Register here.

     ✔️Thursday, October 24: We’ll be meeting at Boone Greenway/Clawson-Burnley Park (355 M.L.K. Jr. St, Boone, NC 28607) from 1-4 p.m. and working to collect litter and form debris piles from the river, banks, trails, and green spaces. Register here.

Local Debris and Channel Migration Survey: as a part of our efforts to build a new mental map and understand how to best rehabilitate our rivers moving forward, we would like to know about how your section of river has been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please include descriptions and pictures of any cars, fallen trees, new boulders, other large debris, and/or channel migration that has changed or impacted the river/stream on your property within the Watauga, New, and Elk river watersheds. Before and after pictures are greatly appreciated, if possible. Take the survey here.

Be sure to follow the Watauga Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing updates.

Taking water samples on the Broad River near Shelby, NC.

Broad Riverkeeper

Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell has been conducting regular water sampling throughout the Broad River Watershed. Be sure to follow David on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates on water sampling results. Here’s an update from last Thursday, October 10:

On Thursday morning, we received confirmation from the NC Department of Environmental Quality that Lake Lure’s wastewater treatment plant was severely damaged by floodwaters, resulting in raw sewage spilling into the Broad River. We immediately went out to take water samples and run analyses in our lab. From a sample taken 1/2 mile below the lake, last week’s results showed excessive bacteria levels. Further downstream at Grays Road and Coxe Road accesses, and at the Broad River Greenway, bacteria levels were fairly low. We advise river users to not enter the water at this time. Not only is high bacteria a safety risk, but there is a lot of dangerous debris moving downstream, which you cannot see due to high turbidity. We’ll be continuing to monitor water quality over the next two to four weeks and will keep you posted. Stay safe and look after your neighbors.

Taking water samples on the Green River in Saluda, NC.

Green Riverkeeper

This past week, Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks has been assisting with well water testing and thoroughly sampling sites Green River access sites to determine bacteria levels. Last Thursday, water sampling showed low E. coli readings at several sites, which is amazing news! In the coming weeks, Erica will send additional water samples to an outside lab for chemical testing. MountainTrue and community partners still ask that you stay out of the river at the moment while we do more testing. Be sure to follow Erica on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing updates. 

We’re still having our open house celebration next Thursday, October 24, from 5-7 p.m. at our new office location in Saluda, NC! Come out to see the new space, mingle with fellow MountainTrue supporters, build new relationships, and support local businesses in the area.

We’ll have snacks from Sara’s Event Services, drinks donated by Oskar Blues and served by Spruce and Pine Bar Company, music from local fiddlers and banjo players, and live painting by local artist, Kristen Mode, co-owner of EARThly Minds Gallery— you don’t want to miss it!

No RSVP is required but we will have a limited number of free snacks and drinks (limit 2 drinks per person).

Volunteer Safety Reminder: Always Wear Your PPE During Cleanups!

As more volunteers participate in river clean-ups and other recovery activities, many will be coming into contact with mud, sludge, sediment, and dust left behind by the storm. These materials may contain higher levels of pollutants and contaminants, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

To work safely, we recommend using the following personal protective equipment (PPE):

     ✔️Rubber boots that can be easily cleaned to prevent cross-contamination.

     ✔️Rubber gloves to protect your hands from direct contact with contaminated materials.

     ✔️N95 masks (or better) to reduce inhalation of harmful dust and particles.

     ✔️Long sleeves to protect your arms from direct contact with potentially harmful substances.

     ✔️Waterproof bandages to cover any cuts or abrasions, reducing the risk of infection.

     ✔️Safety glasses or goggles to shield your eyes from mud particles and dust.

After your clean-up activities, be sure to shower as soon as possible to remove any remaining contaminants from your skin and clothing. Given the lack of running water in many areas, you may want to arrange your shower plans before signing up for a clean-up. It’s also a good idea to make sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot. 

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure your safety while helping our community recover.

Resilient Forests Team

MountainTrue and Wildwood Consulting cleaning up debris in Woodfin Riverside Park.

Our team has organized chainsaw crews comprised of professional sawyers to begin clearing areas in public parks around Buncombe County. This week, those crews began working at Woodfin Riverside Park, Ledges Whitewater River Park, Walnut Island, and helping residents in Reems Creek and Bakersville.

Public Lands updates:

     ✔️Please note that all Buncombe County parks remain closed at this time.

     ✔️Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and most of the State Parks in the Western Region remain closed.

     ✔️Nantahala National Forest and Smoky Mountains National Park in Swain County, NC, are mostly open. Please visit those areas if you are seeking to commune with wild nature. 

Healthy Communities Team

Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell and Organizer Nancy Díaz have been working with local organizations and communities to continue to distribute supplies and raise awareness of relief aid availability around Buncombe and Henderson counties. Nancy has helped complete over 300 FEMA assistance applications for families living in mobile home parks and other vulnerable communities in Henderson County. 

Yesterday, the LG Laundry facility at the St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville concluded its services and moved on to help those recovering from Hurricane Milton in Florida. The LG Laundry facility completed over 1,500 loads of laundry while they were here — a heartfelt thanks goes out to Christina Wright and her team at LG Electronics, whose generosity and tenacity brought comfort to over 1,000 families in their time of need. Additional shower and laundry resources are available at the following locations in Buncombe County:

     ✔️Asheville Farmstead School (218 Morgan Cove Rd, Candler, NC 28715) – showers

     ✔️Maple Ridge Baptist Church (133 Medford Branch Rd, Candler, NC 28715) – showers + laundry available Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

     ✔️Walmart (60 Airport Rd, Arden, NC 28704) – showers available daily 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

     ✔️YMCA Biltmore Park (3 Town Square Blvd, Asheville, NC 28803) – showers available daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Creation Care Alliance (CCA)

CCA Director Sarah Ogletree has been matching impacted congregations in remote areas with resources and volunteers from unaffected faith communities through the CCA network. This work continues to grow and currently serves to connect the following faith communities: 

     ✔️St. John’s Episcopal Church (Sylva), 

     ✔️First Baptist Church (Sylva), 

     ✔️Ochre Hill Baptist Church (Sylva), 

     ✔️Portico Church (Charlottesville, VA), 

     ✔️First Presbyterian Church (Spruce Pine), 

     ✔️Cloudland Baptist Church (Glen Ayre), 

     ✔️Roan Mountain Baptist Church (Bakersville)

In addition to organizing congregational mutual aid, Sarah is working alongside Mitchell County Emergency Services, local organizations, and various partners to ensure that rural communities devastated by Helene continue to receive support. If your congregation would like to participate in CCA’s Helene response OR receive relief via the CCA network, please fill out this quick survey. Updates regarding this work are posted frequently on the Creation Care Alliance Facebook page. 

Western Region Team

While most of the Western Region escaped the worst of the storm, Haywood County was hit hard. Our Western Region team, led by Western Regional Director Callie Moore and MountainTrue Board Member Katherine Taaffe, has continued to collect and deliver relief supplies and volunteer to support ongoing distribution efforts. Click here to sign up for a volunteer shift for the Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Distribution Center located at Woodland Baptist Church in Haywood County.

Dear MountainTrue Family,

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the MountainStrong Recovery Fund . When we planned for 2024, we never anticipated the historic flooding and widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. But your support allowed us to respond quickly to immediate needs—and it will continue to help us tackle the long road ahead. If you haven’t yet made a donation, we hope you will consider doing so today. See below to learn more about MountainTrue’s response efforts. 

As our region shifts from crisis response to recovery, there is much work to be done. We will focus on restoring our rivers, rebuilding access to our forests, advocating for stronger land-use policies in response to our changing climate, and addressing the housing crisis that has been made even more urgent by the storm.

Our staff is already hard at work inventorying damage to critical infrastructure, testing for soil and water contamination, and coordinating volunteer efforts from clean-ups to supply runs. Below, you can read more about our progress and the work that lies ahead.

Our region’s recovery will take years, but together, we can rebuild a stronger, more resilient future. Thank you, again, for your ongoing support, donations, and volunteerism.

We couldn’t do this without you,

Bob Wagner 

Executive Director

Safety Alert: Best Practices & PPE for Post-Helene River Cleanups 

As more volunteers participate in river clean-ups and other recovery activities, many will be coming into contact with mud, sludge, sediment, and dust left behind by the storm. These materials may contain higher levels of pollutants and contaminants, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

To work safely, we recommend using the following personal protective equipment (PPE):

• Rubber boots that can be easily cleaned to prevent cross-contamination.
• Rubber gloves to protect your hands from direct contact with contaminated materials.
• N95 masks (or better) to reduce inhalation of harmful dust and particles.
• Long sleeves to protect your arms from direct contact with potentially harmful substances.
• Waterproof bandages to cover any cuts or abrasions, reducing the risk of infection.
• Safety glasses or goggles to shield your eyes from mud particles and dust.

After your clean-up activities, be sure to shower as soon as possible to remove any remaining contaminants from your skin and clothing. Given the lack of running water in many areas, you may want to arrange your shower plans before signing up for a clean-up. 

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure your safety while helping our community recover.

New WNC Farmer Resource Guide Available
MountainTrue’s new WNC Farmer Resource Guide serves as a one-stop shop for agricultural producers in the region to find support for all aspects of growing crops and raising livestock. It compiles non-profit, local, state, and federal resources to streamline the process of finding the help you need, all in one place. Check it out here.  

French Broad Watershed Science & Policy Manager Anna Alsobrook (second from right) and Paddle Trail Manager Jack Henderson (right) work with volunteers to pass out hot meals at the Southside Community Center in Asheville.

New WNC Hurricane Recovery Resource Guide Available
Check out MountainTrue’s Hurricane Helene Resource Guide for essential information on disaster relief, community support services, and ways to get involved in recovery efforts across Western North Carolina. From food and water distribution to well water testing kits, this guide connects you with the resources you need during the recovery process.
https://mountaintrue.org/helene-resource-guide/ 

MountainTrue’s Roundup: Responding to Hurricane Helene

Clean Waters Team

French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson taking a soil sample in Marshall, NC.

French Broad Riverkeeper: Hartwell Carson and his team were among the first to respond, serving over 2,500 meals and distributing clean water through a mobile grilling operation during the days immediately after the storm. With water quality being a top concern, the French Broad Riverkeeper team has conducted an extensive tour of the watershed to assess damage, taken E. coli samples, and identified several sources of pollution that they are now working to remedy. We’ve collected a soil sample near Silverline Plastics in Woodfin to assess contamination risks, with results expected from Pace Analytical next week. We have plans to collect soil samples from other industrial sites across the watershed, and we are offering well-water testing kits to affected residents. Our team is also hosting our first River Cleanup to remove debris and mitigate pollution in the French Broad.

• • RAD Cleanup: Meet us Friday morning (10/11) @ 10:30 a.m. at the original Wedge Brewing Co. parking lot, 37 Paynes Way, Asheville, NC 28801.
  • Free Well Water Testing Kits: If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t currently have resources to test every well, so we are asking that just wells that were flooded be tested. Pick up your well testing kit from 9-12 and return it back at by 3 pm. We will provide you with all the necessary equipment and instructions for well sampling, and we will have the results ready the next day. Thursday (10/10) from 9-3 pm at Piney Mountain United Methodist Church, 14 Piney Mountain Church Rd, Candler, NC 28715

Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks (kneeling at left) with a group of volunteers who helped distribute food and water in Saluda. This was only about a quarter of the volunteers that Erica mobilized.

Green Riverkeeper: In the Green River watershed, we’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of over 150 volunteers from across the Southeast and beyond, including states like South Carolina, Georgia, Wyoming, Kentucky, and Virginia. Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks focused our relief efforts on communities such as Saluda, Bat Cave, Gerton, and Big Hungry. Partnering with H20 Dreams, we set up a supply distribution center at our Saluda office, offering drive-through services for those in need of food, hygiene products, baby supplies, and even gas for chainsaws and generators. As other local organizations have gained their footing, we’ve wrapped up our distribution efforts, passing donations on to Collaborative De Milpa, CAJA Solidaria, French Broad River Academy, and Beloved Asheville.

In addition to relief distribution, we worked with fire and rescue teams from Saluda, Gerton, Skyland, and Fairview to clear access points and assist with search and rescue missions. 

Broad Riverkeeper: Our Broad Riverkeeper team has been on the ground helping distribute meals and resources while conducting wellness checks in impacted communities. We’ve partnered with local groups to make sure that no one is left without support in the aftermath of the storm.

Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill delivering oxygen via 4×4 to hard-to-reach areas impacted by Helene.

Watauga Riverkeeper: The Watauga Riverkeeper team has been busy delivering supplies to hard-to-reach areas, conducting wellness checks, and inventorying river debris and infrastructure failures. Our Watauga Riverkeeper, Andy Hil, has been offering wilderness first aid to those injured, while his partner, Bettie Hill, helped set up a rapid response shelter and medical clinic that is now being managed by DHHS and the Red Cross. We’re also partnering with Wine to Water to distribute water filters, and this Thursday, we’ll be holding a river cleanup with their support. Beyond water-based relief, our team worked with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture to clean up local farms and volunteered with Farm Café, serving meals to those in need. We’ve also been collaborating with DHHS to set up well water testing kits in the community.

• Free Well Water Testing Kits: If your well or spring was submerged in the flood, the Watauga Riverkeeper team is set up in Zionville Ramp Company (ZRC) (11878 US-421, Trade, TN 37691) for free E.coli bacteria testing of wells and springs for the coming weeks. Pick up and drop off of sample bottles can occur from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The sample bottles and instruction/ID sheets are set up in front of the water station. Once you pick up a sampling bottle, fill the sample bottle according to the instructions and return it within 30 hours with your sample ID sheet. Our Water Team will run the sample in the lab, and get results back to you after 24 hours. 
• Watauga River Cleanup: WRK is partnering with Wine to Water on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting next week to begin restoration and clean-up efforts along Winkler’s Creek at the Boone Greenway. Beginning at 9 a.m., we will meet at Wine to Water (689 George Wilson Rd. Boone, NC) to discuss PPE and our goals and to hand out supplies. Be sure to bring lunch and plenty of water. If you have them, please bring gloves, eye protection, masks, etc. At 9:30 a.m., we will head over to the Boone Greenway in the Fire Station #2 parking lot & gear up. We anticipate the clean-up lasting from 10-3 p.m. along our adopted stream section.

Resilient Forests Team

Our Resilient Forests team has been inventorying damage to public lands and forests. We’re currently seeking substantial funding to hire professionally trained chainsaw crews to clear fallen trees and debris from public lands, helping to reopen trails and restore access to these vital areas.

Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell with Christine Wright of LG Electronics at the LG Laundry Relief Zone they worked to set up at the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville.

Healthy Communities Team

In Asheville, we teamed up with LG Electronics, Rep. Chuck Edwards, the City of Asheville, Water to Wine, Shelton Oil & Transport Co., Shook’s Construction, and Freelance Drilling to set up a mobile laundry service at The Basilica of St. Lawrence. This service is helping low-income seniors, especially those living in the Vanderbilt and Battery Park Apartments, by providing them with free laundry services during this difficult time.

In Henderson County, our Healthy Communities Organizer, Nancy Diaz, has been hard at work helping El Centro with FEMA applications and coordinating a small team to deliver supplies to mobile home communities in Henderson County. 

Creation Care Alliance

In the immediate aftermath of Helene, CCA Director Sarah Ogletree transformed her home in Bakersville into a makeshift community hub, using a Starlink wireless connection to help neighbors stay connected and a dry-erase board to share news regarding road closures and supply distribution. Through Creation Care Alliance partners and personal relationships, Sarah has been coordinating relief efforts to bring much-needed aid to her community, distributing emergency funds through mutual aid organizing and coordinating supply drops to underserved communities in Mitchell and Yancey counties. Now operating from Sylva as a climate refugee, Sarah is working in partnership with First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine, Saint John’s Episcopal Church of Sylva, First Baptist Church of Sylva, and French Broad River Academy to ensure that rural communities receive the support they need. Sarah needs volunteers to sort and pack donations in Sylva and volunteer drivers to help transport supplies. These are long-term needs. If you can offer support for this work in the coming weeks and months, call or text Sarah at 828-506-9467.

MountainTrue member Sarah Kauk volunteered at the Haywood County Food and Water Distribution Center at Woodland Baptist Church in Waynesville. 

Western Region Team

While most of the western region escaped the worst of the storm, Haywood County was hit hard. Our Western Region team, led by Western Regional Director Callie Moore and MountainTrue Board Member Katherine Taaffe, has been collecting and delivering relief supplies and volunteering to support ongoing distribution efforts in the area.

MountainTrue’s hurricane response has been powered by strong community partnerships and the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and collaboration from organizations and individuals alike. Together, we’re making a difference as we help our Southern Blue Ridge Mountains recover and build resilience for the future.